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1 – 10 of 10Olefhile Mosweu and Kelvin Joseph Bwalya
Government entities often implement automated records management systems, often without a clear governing framework to facilitate such automation. This study aims to explore the…
Abstract
Purpose
Government entities often implement automated records management systems, often without a clear governing framework to facilitate such automation. This study aims to explore the role played by information architecture (IA) in records automation in Botswana and propose a guiding framework in the context of e-government.
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative study uses a focused literature review to study the importance of IA in records automation in e-government.
Findings
Without proper IA, information organization including retrieval/access to records becomes difficult. Practically, this would practically and negatively affect process automation in e-government solutions.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed framework can guide e-government record automation in Botswana. However, its limitation lies in the fact that it has not been tested, thereby limiting its practicality until tested empirically.
Practical implications
The proposed framework can be used to inform record automation management processes in the realm of Botswana’s e-government project.
Originality/value
The proposed framework contributes to the body of knowledge on the automation of records and e-government in Botswana specifically and Africa in general.
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Godwin Kaisara and Kelvin Joseph Bwalya
The aim of this study is to identify the various knowledge formats suitable for mobile learning in Namibian public universities.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to identify the various knowledge formats suitable for mobile learning in Namibian public universities.
Design/methodology/approach
Taking a qualitative design, data were collected through focus group interviews of students in two public universities in Namibia.
Findings
Results suggest that students consume knowledge in various formats, with videos the most preferred format. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that students’ preferences are shaped by various factors such as costs and quantity of information.
Research limitations/implications
The study was limited to two public Namibian universities. This limited scope, as well as its qualitative nature, means that findings cannot be arbitrarily generalized to other contexts but cardinal as a source of insight in contextually similar environments.
Practical implications
The findings reveal that teachers should be cognizant of the preferred knowledge formats for mobile learning to achieve its full potential in terms of effective teaching and learning. Therefore, teachers should package learning information for mobile learning in line with learners’ characteristics and preferences.
Originality/value
There is scant information on knowledge formats suitable for mobile learning. Consequently, this study contributes to the nascent body of knowledge on this important issue. Furthermore, although mobile learning uptake is on the ascendancy in Africa, to the best of our knowledge, no study of this nature has been undertaken in this context thereby leaving knowledge gaps for designers, researchers and practitioners in mobile learning.
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Matuka Chipembele and Kelvin Joseph Bwalya
The purpose of this paper is to assess e-readiness (preparedness) of the Copperbelt University (CBU) with a view to ascertain the likelihood of the university benefiting from…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess e-readiness (preparedness) of the Copperbelt University (CBU) with a view to ascertain the likelihood of the university benefiting from various opportunities unlocked by the adoption and use of ICT in advancing its core mandate of teaching, learning and collaborative research.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used the network readiness model emanating from the socio-technical theory, which underpins the extended technological enactment framework. Further, it employed a positivist approach and adopted a case study method coupled with methodological triangulation at data collection stage. With a 95 per cent confidence level of a possible sample frame of 2,980, the study sampled 353 respondents with a response rate of 81 per cent.
Findings
The results show that anticipated ICTs users have not leveraged available ICT infrastructure or are unaware of its existence. Further, quantitative constructs: “accessibility to ICTs” and “requisite ICTs skills” has significant impacts on e-readiness indicators and in integration of ICTs in CBU core business activities. Also, the study argues that institutional ICT policy and working environments reshape users’ perception of ICTs for teaching, learning and research.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed conceptual framework only accounted for 43 per cent variance of the factors determining e-readiness of CBU.
Originality/value
Investigating CBU’s e-readiness will enable policy-makers to prioritise interventions needed for transforming the university into an e-ready entity favourably placed to benefit from digital opportunities. Also the emanating conceptual framework is important to theory and practice in integrating ICTs universities business value chains especially in contextually similar environments.
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Olefhile Mosweu, Kelvin Bwalya and Athulang Mutshewa
Public sector organisations in the developing world contexts have hugely invested in procuring information management systems such as the electronic document and records…
Abstract
Purpose
Public sector organisations in the developing world contexts have hugely invested in procuring information management systems such as the electronic document and records management system (EDRMS). The procurement and implementation of these systems come at a huge cost to taxpayers. Unfortunately, most of these systems remain white elephants due to reluctance by the anticipated users to adopt and use them in their information management endeavours. This study aims to understand Action Officers’ perceptions of, adoption and/or usage of the document workflow management system (DWMS) at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Botswana. The DWMS is one type of EDRMS.
Design/methodology/approach
The survey uses a questionnaire distributed in Gaborone, Botswana to gather data on the perceptions of anticipated users of the DWMS. The study used a modified form of UTAUT as a theoretical lens to explore user’s perception on the adoption and use of DWMS at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Botswana. The population of the study was 68. A total of 53 (86.89 per cent) out of 61 users of DWMS were purposively sampled and responded to the questionnaire. The rest took part in interviews.
Findings
Negative attitudes to computers, computer anxiety, the complexity of DWMS and its incompatibility to current working practices influences Action and Records Officers’ unwillingness to adopt and use the DWMS.
Research limitations/implications
This study was limited to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)’s Department of Corporate Services, so its findings cannot be statistically generalized to the MTI as a whole. Another limitation relates to the secretive nature of staff in some government departments which lead them to provide partial information related to the study. Finally, the additional technology adoption factors discovered from interviews (i.e. computer anxiety, incompatibility of DWMS to current work practices, negative attitudes to system use and complexity of the system) have not been empirically tested to ascertain their validity. This provides an opportunity for a future study to empirically test the said additional factors.
Practical implications
To mitigate the lower DWMS adoption and usage, robust change management and communication were identified as some of the critical factors that should be considered. The identified factors may be used in drafting a model to aid the implementation of DWMS in Botswana or in a contextually similar environment in the developing world.
Originality/value
This study provides empirical evidence from an original study.
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Kelvin Joseph Bwalya, Tanya Du Plessis and Chris Rensleigh
The article aims to investigate the potential of successfully implementing e-government in Zambia by considering citizens ' and businesses ' perceptions on…
Abstract
Purpose
The article aims to investigate the potential of successfully implementing e-government in Zambia by considering citizens ' and businesses ' perceptions on e-government. Further, the study investigates what interventions have been put in place to encourage e-government development. The motivation of the study is that despite huge investments in e-government, there has been relatively slow adoption rendering the said interventions not to culminate into meaningful socio-economic value prepositions.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the mixed methods research (MMR) approach, the study intends to identify factors influencing the adoption of e-government solutions in Zambia both at the individual and organizational level. The questionnaire utilized in this research is informed by the technology acceptance model (TAM) as well as the institutional theory and the Giddens ' structuration theory. Spearman ' s ρ was used to determine concurrent and construct validity of the data collection instruments.
Findings
The study posits that a lot needs to be done if e-government were to succeed in Zambia. A majority of the research respondents are not aware of e-government implementation in Zambia. It is desirable that e-government should be implemented with due reference to local contextual characteristics. If factors negatively influencing e-government growth in Zambia are addressed, the prospects for e-government ' s contribution to revitalizing the public service are high.
Research limitations/implications
Since the empirical component of this study did not cover all the nine provinces of Zambia and utilised a limited sample size of 411, the findings may not be truly representative of the situation on the ground. However, the study provides insights on what factors may influence successful implementation of e-government in Zambia. The paper recommends that further empirical study with a larger and more representative sample should be done in order for the findings to command higher statistical relevance.
Practical implications
The identified factors may act as pointers to decision makers ' endeavours to design context-aware e-government interventions. This is very important to reduce failure incidences of e-government interventions considering huge costs incurred mostly using tax payers ' money. Further, study findings may be used to inform strategies for effervescent e-government development in Zambia by outlining desired interventions and anticipated adoption levels by the citizenry (supply versus demand).
Originality/value
Very limited studies have focused on understanding e-government development in Zambia especially from individuals ' perspective. Most studies have attempted to understand the e-government development at a global level. This study, however, highlights factors that influence e-government proliferation at both the macro and micro levels of the socio-economic hierarchy in Zambia.
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Priti Jain and Bwalya Kelvin Joseph
The main purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a survey carried out in Southern African Development Community (SADC) universities to explore their knowledge portal…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a survey carried out in Southern African Development Community (SADC) universities to explore their knowledge portal practices and ignite debate on best practices regarding the importance, design and management of knowledge portals in developing world contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
The main data collection instrument was a questionnaire which was largely quantitative except one question was qualitative for additional comments.
Findings
The major finding of this study is that only one out of ten participating universities had a knowledge portal. Furthermore, what other participating universities have in place as web sites can only be described realistically as “extended web sites”.
Research limitations/implications
Initially, the main purpose of this study was to explore SADC university knowledge portals and based on the findings ascertain the best practices prevailing among SADC universities. This purpose could not be fully achieved as most SADC participating universities do not have knowledge portals. Instead, they have extended web sites; hence, most responses are based on university extended web sites. Thus, the study reports on one case of a knowledge portal and describes how “extended web sites” might fit as foundational knowledge portals. Since the study was limited in its sample size (ten universities), it has implications for generalisation of the research findings.
Originality/value
This paper provides a theoretical framework for designing an effective university knowledge portal and creates the awareness of the importance of knowledge portals in universities. Also, the paper fills a gap in the literature on knowledge portals, and clarifies the difference between a knowledge portal and a web site.
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Embattled president.
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB250060
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Kelvin Njuguna Karing'u, Hezron Nyarindo Isaboke and Samuel Njiri Ndirangu
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of transactional costs on smallholder avocado farmers’ participation in the export market and the extent of participation in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of transactional costs on smallholder avocado farmers’ participation in the export market and the extent of participation in Murang’a County, Kenya.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected from 384 avocado farmers in Murang’a County, following stratified sampling. The Heckman two-stage model was used for analysis.
Findings
Results showed that the cost of information search was an important variable that impedes smallholders’ participation in export marketing while harvesting costs inhibits the extent of participation in export marketing.
Research limitations/implications
This study used data at the farm level. Therefore, insights on transaction costs among other marketing agents in the export market value chain would be an issue for future studies.
Originality/value
Following the debate on transaction costs and market participation among farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa, this paper models transactional costs and export market participation among avocado smallholders and measures the extent of participation with the inclusion of harvesting costs, negotiation costs, monitoring costs and information search costs that are not common in previous studies, thus contributing to the development of literature.
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Tayebeh Nikraftar and Reza Shokri
The purpose of this paper is, at first, to reveal the present concourse about barriers to coordination in government web then collect the dominant concourse about barriers to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is, at first, to reveal the present concourse about barriers to coordination in government web then collect the dominant concourse about barriers to alignment along the web of governmental machinery from the perspective of Iranian practitioners and scholars. Strengthening the coordination of government machinery is one of the purposes of the Iranian Government, but one of the important influences on coordination in government is the attitudes and perceptions of governing elites.
Design/methodology/approach
This study combines the strengths of both the qualitative and quantitative research traditions. It entails a set of sequential steps which involve the generation of ideas about the research topics; a sample of statements representative of different views (dominant concourse) was selected from the 107 statements (present concourse) mentioned above based on a two-round Delphi technique.
Findings
The statements of this concourse are organized in two main categories: policy and administrative barriers. Researchers utilized the Delphi technique to identify the 73 most important statements concerning the diversity of opinion within the present concourse.
Research limitations
Generalization of findings is not a major concern of this study, and selection of the sample in this study is not based on random sampling.
Practical implications
The paper includes implications for improving coordination in the Iranian Government. The results of this study have implications for policymakers to reform the government machinery and design mechanism for better performance.
Originality/value
This paper fulfills an identified need to study solutions for removing barriers to coordination in government. It proposed e-government as one mechanism for removing these barriers and strengthening consensus in Iranian Government machinery.
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